The United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA), harness racing’s largest and leading membership organization for industry communicators, is very pleased to announce that the Indiana Standardbred Association (ISA), the organization which represents the interests of all the facets of harness racing in the Hoosier State, is partnering with USHWA in the presentation of its annual Dan Patch Awards Banquet Presented by Hoosier Park, which will be held on Sunday, February 26, 2017 at the Planet Hollywood casino in Las Vegas, NV.
The Indiana Standardbred Association’s sponsorship will consist of two important facets of the Banquet: 1) the video/audio presentations shown through the Banquet room after the announcement of every award winner, an annual Banquet highlight coordinated by the award-winning Heather Vitale; and 2) the ‘Red Carpet Photo Booth,’ where Banquet attendees can pose for a ‘remember-the-evening’ picture of their group in their finery, a picture which is then e-mailed to them as a memento of the festive occasion.
The Indiana Standardbred Association is the result of a merger in 1994 (not coincidentally, the year pari-mutuel racing came to Indiana) between the Indiana Trotting And Pacing Association and the Standardbred Owners and Breeders of Indiana, so that the state’s industry could have maximum representation and exposure within Indiana through the combined efforts of one united group working for the greatest overall good. The non-profit organization has over 2,500 active members, and is overseen by a board of 15 elected directors, one group seeking to further the Standardbred cause in the home state of Dan Patch (appropriately enough for this banquet).
Jack Kieninger, president of the Indiana Standardbred Association, said, “We are thrilled to be a sponsor of the USHWA Dan Patch Awards Banquet Presented by Hoosier Park. Indiana is at the forefront of Standardbred racing right now, and it’s time we stepped up to the plate and got involved a little bit more nationally. We are honored to be able to participate this year.”
Tim Bojarski, president of the U.S. Harness Writers Association, noted that, “USHWA is delighted that the Indiana Standardbred Association is partnering with us for the 2017 Dan Patch banquet presentation. Their presence, along with that of our presenting title sponsor, Hoosier Park, shows the progressive thinking that has become associated with Indiana in our sport within the last several years, and further shows why Indiana and Hoosier Park will be hosting the Breeders Crown Championships in the fall of 2017.”
(USHWA)
